Tributes to tragic Lots Road couple

04 March 2013Written by ATG Reporter

Lots Road Auctions are in mourning for staff members Joe Bampton and Suzanna Gyetvai, who died in the hot air balloon tragedy in Luxor, Egypt, on February 26.

Auctioneer Nick Carter, who had worked
closely with Mr Bampton, 40, since 1997 and Miss Gyetvai, 34, since
she joined the firm three years ago, called them "a lovely couple".
"It was like losing a brother and a sister," he told ATG.

Both artists, it was their love of
Contemporary art that helped bring them together as a couple after
they met at Lots Road, said Mr Carter.

Mr Bampton, described as "very likeable",
worked as a Persian carpets and textiles specialist. "He was very,
very knowledgeable and was very much liked and trusted by what is a
very close-knit trade in this sector," said Mr Carter.

He said Miss Gyetvai, who worked in administration and
valuations, was a talented artist and had devoted a lot of time to
mastering printmaking techniques in recent years. "She was
developing quite a following and promised to be very successful.
It's such a shame that won't come to fruition now," he said.

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